Avian pox
W. Hansen
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Avian pox is the common name for a mild-to-severe, slowdeveloping disease of birds that is caused by a large virus belonging to the avipoxvirus group, a subgroup of poxviruses. This group contains several similar virus strains; some strains have the ability to infect several groups or species of birds but...
Discovery of Cnemidophorus neomexicanus in Arizona
Trevor Persons, John W. Wright
1999, Herpetological Review (30) 207-209
The parthenogenetic whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus neomexicanus is known primarily from the vicinity of the Rio Grande Valley from Espanola, Rio Arriba Co., New Mexico south to near Candelaria, Presidio Co., Texas, and extending westward in southwestern New Mexico to west of Lordsburg, Hidalgo Co. (Fig. 1; Axtell 1966; Cole et...
Barbiturates
N. J. Thomas
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Barbiturate products are commonly used to euthanize domestic animals. The primary active component in euthanasia solutions is sodium pentobarbital, but some products also contain other minor ingredients (Fig. 48.1).Euthanasia solutions are generally injected intravenously in domestic animals; therefore, after death, the solutions will be most concentrated in the blood and...
Oil
Tonie E. Rocke
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Each year, an average of 14 million gallons of oil from more than 10,000 accidental spills flow into fresh and saltwater environments in and around the United States. Most accidental oil spills occur when oil is transported by tankers or barges, but oil is also spilled during highway, rail, and...
Gizzard worms
B.N. Tuggle, M. Friend
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Gizzard worms are comprised of several species of parasitic nematodes or roundworms of birds. Severe infections can result in birds becoming unthrifty and debilitated to the extent that they are more susceptible to predation and to infection by other disease agents. The two gizzard worms that are emphasized here are...
Cyanide
Lynn H. Creekmore
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Cyanide poisoning of birds is caused by exposure to cyanide in two forms: inorganic salts and hydrogen cyanide gas (HCN). Two sources of cyanide have been associated with bird mortalities: gold and silver mines that use cyanide in the extraction process and a predator control device called the M-44 sodium...
Recording and submitting specimen history data
J. C. Franson
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
History can be defined as a chronological record of significant events. In wildlife disease investigations, determining the history or background of a problem is the first significant step toward establishing a diagnosis. The diagnostic process is often greatly expedited by a thorough history accompanying specimens submitted for laboratory evaluation. This...
Specimen collection and preservation
J. C. Franson
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Specimens are used to provide supporting information leading to the diagnosis of a cause of disease or death. A specimen may be an intact carcass, tissues removed from carcasses, parasites, ingested food, feces, or environmental samples. The specimen should be as fresh and undamaged as possible....
Eastern equine encephalomyelitis
W. Hansen, D. E. Docherty
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is caused by infection with an RNA virus classified in the family Togaviridae. The virus is also referred to as an “arbovirus” because virus replication takes place within mosquitoes that then transmit the disease agent to vertebrate hosts such as birds and mammals, including humans. The...
Intestinal coccidiosis
M. Friend, J. C. Franson
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Coccidia are a complex and diverse group of protozoan (single-celled organisms) parasites; the coccidia group contains many species, most of which do not cause clinical disease. In birds, most disease-causing or pathogenic forms of coccidia parasites belong to the genus Eimeria. Coccidia usually invade the intestinal tract, but some invade...
Disease control operations
M. Friend, J. C. Franson
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Individual disease outbreaks have killed many thousands of animals on numerous occasions. Tens of thousands of migratory birds have died in single die-offs with as many as 1,000 birds succumbing in 1 day. The ability to successfully combat such explosive situations is highly dependent on the readiness of field personnel...
Salt
J. C. Franson, M. Friend
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Animals become victims of salt poisoning or toxicosis when toxic levels of sodium and chloride accumulate in the blood after they ingest large amounts of salt or, in some species, are deprived of water. For birds, salt sources may include saline water and road salt.Normally, the salt glands of birds...
Polychlorinated biphenyls
M. Friend, J. C. Franson
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial compounds with multiple industrial and commercial uses (Table 41.1). PCBs are chemically inert and stable when heated. These properties contribute greatly to PCBs having become environmental contaminants. The chemical inertness and heat stability properties that make PCBs desirable for industry also protect them from destruction...
Chlamydiosis
J. C. Franson
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Chlamydiosis refers to an infection with organisms of the genus Chlamydia sp., which are bacteria that live within animal cells. Chlamydia psittaci is the species generally associated with this disease in birds. The severity of the disease differs by the strain of C. psittaci and the susceptibility of different species...
Miscellaneous diseases
M. Friend, N. J. Thomas
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
This concluding chapter is intended to further inform the reader of the broad spectrum of causes affecting the health of wild birds by illustrating a variety of disease conditions that are not described elsewhere in this Manual. The information in this chapter is not intended to represent a comprehensive description...
Newcastle disease
D. E. Docherty, M. Friend
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Newcastle Disease (ND) in domestic poultry is a focus for concern throughout much of the world’s agricultural community because of severe economic losses that have occurred from illness, death, and reduced egg production following infection with pathogenic or disease causing strains. Prior to 1990, this disease had rarely been reported...
Inclusion body disease of cranes
D. E. Docherty
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
In March 1978, a previously unidentified herpesvirus was isolated at the National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) from a die-off of captive cranes housed at the International Crane Foundation (ICF) in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Serological testing of this virus against other previously isolated avian herpesviruses does not result in cross-reactions, thereby supporting...
Acanthocephaliasis
Rebecca A. Cole
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
The phylum Acanthocephala contains parasitic worms referred to as thorny-headed worms because both the larval and adult parasites have a retractable proboscis or a tubular structure at the head, which has sharp, recurved hooks or spines. Much like the cestodes or tapeworms, they lack digestive tracts and absorb nutrients from...
Heartworm of swans and geese
Rebecca A. Cole
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Heartworm in swans and geese is caused by a filarial nematode or a roundworm of the superfamily Filarioidea which is transmitted to the bird by a biting louse. The nematode and the louse both are parasites. Sarconema eurycerca is the only one of several species of microfilaria or the first...
Avian cholera
Milton Friend
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Avian cholera is a contagious disease resulting from infection by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida. Several subspecies of bacteria have been proposed for P. multocida, and at least 16 different P. multocida serotypes or characteristics of antigens in bacterial cells that differentiate bacterial variants from each other have been recognized....
Effects of the lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) on pH, net oxygen production, and respiration by algae
Ronald J. Scholefield, Kim T. Fredricks, Karen S. Slaght, James G. Seelye
1999, Technical Report 63
The lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) has been used in the United States and Canada for more than 35 years to control larval sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) in tributaries of the Great Lakes. Occasionally, during stream treatments with TFM, nontarget-fish mortality reaches unacceptable levels. These losses could be due to...
Tuberculosis
Milton Friend
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Avian tuberculosis is usually caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium. At least 20 different types of M. avium have been identified, only three of which are known to cause disease in birds. Other types of Mycobacterium rarely cause tuberculosis in most avian species; however, parrots, macaws, and other large perching...
Salmonellosis
Milton Friend
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Avian salmonellosis is caused by a group of bacteria of the genus salmonella. Approximately 2,300 different strains of salmonellae have been identified, and these are placed into groupings called “serovars” on the basis of their antigens or substances that induce immune response by the host, such as the production of...
Mycoplasmosis
M. Friend
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Mycoplasmosis is caused by infection with a unique group of bacteria that lack cell walls but possess distinctive plasma membranes. Mycoplasma are also the smallest self-replicating life-forms, and they are responsible for a variety of diseases in humans, animals, insects, and plants. These bacteria can cause acute and chronic diseases...
Miscellaneous bacterial diseases
M. Friend
1999, Information and Technology Report 1999-0001
Disease in free-ranging birds is caused by many other pathogenic bacteria in addition to those illustrated within this section. These other diseases are currently considered less important because of their infrequent occurrence, the small numbers of birds generally lost annually, or because they primarily result from infection by opportunistic pathogens...
